backdoor deals
Covert political agreements
Backdoor deals are secretive agreements made outside official channels, typically to avoid scrutiny or bypass proper procedures.
The term suggests something underhanded—negotiations conducted away from public view where favors are exchanged or rules bent: The contract was awarded through backdoor deals with city officials.
The image is of entering through the back rather than the front, evading the transparency expected of legitimate transactions.
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
- smoke-filled roomSecret political negotiation venue
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
kickbacks · palm greasing · cash in hand · brown envelopes · handshake · smoky · hush-hush · under-the-table · quid pro quo · collusion · cronyism · old boys club · favors · lobbying · payoff · sweetheart · insider · scheming
- shadow powerpuppet master, puppeteer, string puller, string pulling, string-pulling
- contrabandheroin, cocaine, narcotics, illegal drugs, illicit drugs
- favoritismfavoritism, nepotism, cronyism, partiality, preferential treatment
- Iran-ContraIran-Contra, Contras, Reagan, arms sales, Nicaragua
backdoor dealspublic hearings
Official meetings open to all
open-door policy · sunshine laws · public disclosure · town hall meetings · public record
backdoor dealsdue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
official channels · parliamentary procedure · democratic process · parliamentary debate · legislative process
backdoor dealsfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
ethical business practices · square dealing · straight dealing · level playing field
back, door, deal, backs, backed, backing, backside, backbone, background